Is it ever OK TO BREAK THE RULES?

We’ve been living with rules and guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19 for a year now, but one in four of us has admitted to breaking them

- FIONA KINLOCH, SALLY WINDSOR

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a nationwide lockdown on 23 March 2020, few would have predicted that nearly a year later, we’d still find ourselves confined to our homes.

In that time, we’ve forgone countless social gatherings with friends, beach holidays and time spent with loved ones, all in the name of complying with the unmistakable ‘stay at home’ message. But while most of us were adhering to instruction, a huge 27% admitted to breaking the rules*, including a whole host of celebrities.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden is just one of the stars who has most recently admitted to flouting. The 50-year-old said she was ‘devastated’ to have to break lockdown rules when she travelled to see her mum, Judith, 71, and stepdad, Leslie, 75, in Cornwall last month. According to her agent, the radio host made the more-than 200-mile trip from her home in Surrey after receiving a ‘distressing’ call from her stepfather. No more details alluding to Amanda’s trip are known and she has since avoided paying a fine for her actions.

But in such trying times, is breaking lockdown rules always a black-and-white misdemeanour, or do we need a little more compassion? Woman investigates.

‘WE HAVE TO TRUST PEOPLE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION’

Louise Westra, 47, lives in Perthshire with her husband, Rob, 49, and their two children. She’s a naturopath and has her own company.